Switzerland produced the shock of Euro 2020 as they booked a place in the quarter-finals with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over world champions Fra
Switzerland produced the shock of Euro 2020 as they booked a place in the quarter-finals with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over world champions France in Bucharest.
Vladimir Petkovic’s men came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 and force extra time before Kylian Mbappe saw his penalty saved by Yann Sommer after the first nine kicks were all scored.
It sees Switzerland reach a major quarter-finals for the first time since 1954 and leaves the world champions with plenty to ponder as they came up well short after being tagged as heavy favourites to lift the trophy.
On what proved to be an incredible night of drama, Haris Seferovic opened the scoring for the Swiss on 15 minutes when he rose majestically to guide a firm header into the corner.
France were far from their best and struggled to adapt to a less familiar 3-5-2 system, leaving them with little to show from a first 45 where the Swiss deservedly went in at the break ahead.
Didier Deschamps reverted to a more familiar shape soon after and the game seemed to turn in a crazy four-minute spell.
Hugo Lloris was the initial hero as he saved Ricardo Rodriguez’s penalty to stop the Swiss pulling clear. The reprieve seemed to inspire Didier Deschamps’ men and Benzema levelled with a sensational touch to take Kylian Mbappe’s flick from behind him and then clip home a superb equaliser.
France then stormed in front on 59 minutes when Benzema headed in a rebound after a wonderful link-up between Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann carved the Swiss open once more.
Paul Pogba curled in a stunning third from long range but Switzerland weren’t done.
Seferovic set up a nervy finale when he nodded in his second of the game nine minutes from time before substitute Mario Gavranovic forced extra-time with a brilliant last-gasp shot into the bottom corner.
The French had chances to win it but could not find the finish and Mbappe was the only one to blink in the shoot out to cap a tournament he will want to forget in a hurry.
Switzerland will now meet Spain in the last eight on Friday evening.
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